When the Indio band Whitewater opened for former Kyuss frontman John Garcia in July at Pappy and Harriet\u2019s<\/a>, the crowd went home buzzing about a group they couldn\u2019t find on Apple Music or Spotify. That\u2019s because Whitewater hasn\u2019t released an official recording \u2014 and that\u2019s exactly how members want it, for now.<\/p>\n During a recent interview in Indio, frontman and guitarist Jason Zembo said Whitewater\u2019s momentum has grown entirely through \u201cword of mouth\u201d after live performances. The band has spent the past two years writing and rehearsing. Drummer Daniel Duardo added, \u201cIt\u2019s not laziness or that we\u2019re unwilling,\u201d noting Whitewater has about 20 songs written.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re pushing ourselves to get better,\u201d Zembo said. \u201cWe\u2019ve gone into the studio before, and the decision was made that it would be best if our first release were special, not just the first thing we write, put it out, and rush it. We wanted to figure ourselves out as a band first \u2014 what our identity was, what our sound was \u2014 and strategically grow a fan base. We wanted to do all those steps first so we could deliver the best we can do.\u201d<\/p>\n Whitewater band members Ryan Priest, left, Daniel Duardo, Jason Zembo and Emanuel Torres, in Indio, Calif., on August 13, 2025.<\/p>\n When Whitewater performed at Pappy and Harriet’s<\/a>, the band\u2019s sound carried the raw intensity of Seattle\u2019s late \u201980s and early \u201990s underground music scene, before it reached mainstream success. The quartet’s style fused elements of Soundgarden, Nirvana and Screaming Trees with touches of alternative acts like the Red Hot Chili Peppers. But despite the blend of influences, the sound was consistent, not a mix of multiple genres.<\/p>\n Many of Garcia\u2019s fans approached Whitewater afterward \u2014 some traveling from as far as Washington \u2014 and bought T-shirts and other merchandise. But the band didn\u2019t have music to sell beyond a few low-quality demos posted<\/a> on its website.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was cool to connect with these people that aren\u2019t even from the desert,\u201d Zembo said. \u201cThey came all the way here to see John and thought we were cool too, and just wanted to talk to us. The fact it felt like we were doing something bigger than just local do-it-yourself shows like we were used to, it was like, \u2018Wow … they liked us and thought it was a good show!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Three of the members \u2014 Zembo, Duardo and bassist Emanuel Torres \u2014 are alumni of the Academy of Musical Performance (AMP), a music education program in Indio for young musicians in the Coachella Valley<\/a>. Zembo credited AMP with teaching him how to play in a group after years of \u201cbedroom guitar.\u201d Before Whitewater, he played in the now-defunct local teen band Pescaterritory, which performed several local shows until disbanding in 2023.<\/p>\n \u201cAMP helped me get comfortable playing in front of people. Pescaterritory taught me how to get tighter with a small group, and now Whitewater has been about songwriting and singing. Every step has had a purpose,\u201d Zembo said.<\/p>\n Duardo and Torres met through AMP and later played together in the Indio rock band Volatile. Torres eventually left the program, but continued to hone his musical skills independently.<\/p>\n Whitewater band members Ryan Priest, left, Daniel Duardo, Jason Zembo and Emanuel Torres, in Indio, Calif., on August 13, 2025.<\/p>\n When the three reunited as the Jason Zembo Band, the band needed another guitarist. That\u2019s when Ryan Priest joined, though at first he wasn\u2019t interested. He had previously played in an acoustic duo, and while Nirvana inspired him to start on electric guitar, he eventually shifted to acoustic guitar and singing instead of \u201cscreaming into a mic.\u201d<\/p>\n Whitewater finally brought Priest in during 2023, while still performing under the Jason Zembo Band name.<\/p>\n \u201cI started playing electric guitar, and I was hooked, especially the first time we played on stage, because it was the first time we played a gig together,\u201d Priest said. \u201cI knew how good Jason was because I was friends with him and he was the guitar God. But there was also the drummer God (Duardo) and the bass God (Torres), and being with these three, it was like \u2018This isn\u2019t just a fun band, this is a good band. I need to step up my game.\u2019 If it weren\u2019t for them, I don\u2019t think I\u2019d like guitar as much as I do now.\u201d<\/p>\n When asked if Priest was tricked into joining, he laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cJason said, \u2018We\u2019re going to play one gig with covers.\u2019 Then he brought in an original, then another original, and I was like, \u2018Oh, I guess I\u2019m in it,\u2019\u201d Priest said.<\/p>\n Whitewater lead vocals and guitar player Jason Zembo, left, and bass player Emanuel Torres react during an interview in Indio, Calif., on August 13, 2025.<\/p>\n In 2024, Whitewater competed in a battle of the bands at The River at Rancho Mirage. First prize included radio support, cash and a recording studio package. The band won the first round, with Garcia at the judge\u2019s table, but lost the second. Still, Whitewater walked away with prize money and exposure to the local music scene.<\/p>\n \u201cWe wanted to win, of course,\u201d Zembo said. \u201cBut more than anything, we wanted to show people what we could do. We tightened our songs, pushed our performances and came away with new fans.\u201d<\/p>\n Garcia praised their set and later invited Whitewater to open his Pappy and Harriet\u2019s show, alongside fellow local band Empty Seat.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was surreal,\u201d Duardo said. \u201cWe\u2019d seen legends like Jerry Cantrell (of Alice in Chains) play on that stage, and then suddenly we were up there.\u201d<\/p>\n Whitewater plans to record in the fall, followed by an official release. Discussing lyrical themes, Zembo said many songs reflect his 21-year-old perspective on politics, religion and spirituality.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like my lyrics are getting better, all of us are getting more comfortable with our instruments, and we\u2019re writing parts that fit the songs better,\u201d Zembo said. \u201cIt\u2019s easy when you\u2019re a young band to just try and show off, but I feel like our writing is getting more sophisticated. Everybody is writing stuff that fits the songs perfectly. We\u2019re maturing as musicians together and influencing each other.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a big reason why we\u2019ve waited to release music,\u201d Priest said. \u201cWe feel like the first six or eight months of being a band, you haven\u2019t written your best stuff or found out who you are. Every song we write gets better.\u201d<\/p>\n Brian Blueskye covers arts\u00a0and entertainment for the Desert Sun. He\u00a0can be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com.<\/p>\n This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Things to do in Palm Springs: Check out Indio band Whitewater<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/div>\n
Most Whitewater members are former AMP students<\/h2>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
Whitewater rocked Rancho Mirage battle of the bands<\/h2>\n
Whitewater’s songwriting is ‘getting more sophisticated’<\/h2>\n